Gartner once again lowers PC forecast for '04
By Mark LaPedus
Silicon Strategies
11/15/2004, 12:27 PM ET
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A sluggish home computer market prompted Gartner Inc. on Monday (Nov. 15) to lower its worldwide PC forecast in 2004 — again.
Worldwide PC shipments are now forecast to reach 182.7 million units in 2004, an 11.4 percent increase over 2003. This is down from Gartner's previous forecast of 13 percent growth for this year. In August, the market research firm also lowered its forecast for PCs in 2004, which was targeted at 13.4 percent growth (see Aug. 16 story).
The home market's disappointing performance in third quarter accounts for about half of the difference in the revised forecast, while the prospect of weaker home sales this holiday season accounts for the remainder, according to market research firm Gartner (Stamford, Conn.).
Worldwide PC shipments are projected to total 51.9 million units in the fourth quarter of 2004, a 10.1 percent increase from the same period last year, according to a preliminary forecast by Gartner.
While PC shipments will experience double-digit growth in the fourth quarter due to healthy shipments in the professional market, home sales this holiday season will be weaker than expected because of increased competition from digital entertainment products.
"Aside from mobility, there is conspicuous lack of 'must have' new features for home PC users, and this is noticeably impacting home sales, especially replacements purchases," said George Shiffler, principal analyst for Gartner's Client Platforms research, in a statement.
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